Elijah McGuire Can Only Help Ragin’ Cajun Basketball

We all know Elijah McGuire is a stud on the football field. He was the truth in high school on the basketball court too, but is that ability still there?

With a possible NFL career in consideration, McGuire decided to approach Bob Marlin himself about joining the Ragin' Cajun Basketball team. That should show you his level of determination to get his hands back on a basketball. No middle man needed to deliver his message. Marlin said they knew about the possibility of him joining the team back around Christmas, and he got a nice present to finish the season.

This isn't a gimmick or a ploy for attention. McGuire wouldn't waste anybody's time if he didn't think he still had game to offer.

"Eli thinks he can help our team," Marlin said. "Young man's a winner."

Can he help? Absolutely, but the key is to not set the bar of expectation too high. Asking an athlete, even of Eli's caliber, to adjust to the pace of college basketball with no prior exposure is a steep request. If he sticks to the fundamentals during this transitional phase, he could possibly shine a bit when the rust gets knocked off.

Defensively, he should be fine. With his natural speed and agility, he should be able to stay in front of pretty much anybody thrown his way. Adjusting to the official's whistles might take some time, but he probably won't be asked to play heavy minutes too early on.

His quickness clearly isn't a concern, but the conditioning for basketball is a bit different than football. His quick bursts will have to slowly be stretched out as he gets back into basketball shape, but Marlin said he appears to be attacking practice with gusto.

"He was excited, he made some shots. After practice, he was out dunking the ball with the fellas," Marlin said. He even joked that McGuire got hung up on the rim a few times trying to impress his new teammates.

If there are lanes to exploit, McGuire will find them in a hurry. It could get pretty explosive watching him assault the rim off the dribble or in transition.

His positive attitude, ample effort and willingness to play whatever role the coaching staff asks of him will be his biggest attributes moving forward. When an athlete like McGuire asks to be on your team, you don't say no. You find a way to make it work.

It might take McGuire asking some teammates to stick around after practice to shoot extra shots for him to get his stroke back in time for the Sun Belt Tournament. An extra body always helps when you get deeper in the season and legs start to tire. If McGuire can work his way into the backcourt rotation alongside Kasey Shepherd, Jay Wright, Johnathan Stove and Hayward Register, Marlin will take every single minute he can get.

What a nice problem to have, trying to figure out how to use a one of a kind athletic talent...and how much fun is this for Eli? Many people hope to play a single sport in college, but two?

In terms of Eli's NFL Draft stock, a few dunks, rebounds and jump shots might actually turn a few heads.

"I don't think it can hurt him," Marlin said. "It only helps."

It helps everyone. It helps Eli get back in touch with his inner Basketball Jones. It helps Marlin fill his rotation at the guard position. It helps the players find another spark in a long season, and it helps put some butts in the seats. Like Coach Marlin said, it only helps.